Uganda Hippos cry foul over Egypt loss
Jul 25, 2010
THE Uganda U-20 national soccer team went down 2-0 to Egypt crying foul as their consolation goal in Cairo was disallowed over the weekend.
By Swalley Kenyi
Africa Championships
Egypt 2 Uganda 0
THE Uganda U-20 national soccer team went down 2-0 to Egypt crying foul as their consolation goal in Cairo was disallowed over the weekend.
The Uganda Hippos see their first leg loss as a pointer towards their early elimination from the Africa Youth Championships.
But team officials have remained optimistic that the team will overturn the away defeat and edge passed Egypt in the return leg at Nakivubo in two weeks.
Coach Frank Anyau blamed the loss on poor officiating by the referees, whom he accused for disallowing Dan Sserunkuuma’s 83rd minute effort as well as denying them a penalty.
Sserunkuuma, who substituted team captain Mike Mutyaba, had looped Egyptian goalkeeper Ahamed El Shinawy and defender Omar Gaber but his effort was disallowed. The centre referee chose to award a free-kick for a foul on the striker.
“We had a superior game but the referees let us down. We promise the return leg will be ours,†Anyau vowed.
The team returns on Wednesday to resume training for the return leg.
The Hippos conceded the first goal in the 29th minute after Mohamed Salah took goalkeeper Godwin Bbuule by surprise with a hard shot. Patrick Edema would have levelled four minutes later but failed with only the keeper.
Not even Anyau’s change of formation from 4-5-1 to his traditional 4-4-2 introducing a second striker could deter the hosts, who effectively killed off the game with a second goal in the 34th minute.
The winner over two legs will meet either Morocco or Ivory Coast in the second round as teams fight for slots in the finals of the U-20 Africa championships due in Libya next year.
The loss is not a surprise as Uganda always struggles against Egypt in under age competitions.
Uganda met Egypt in the U-20 event at the same stage in 2003 and the North Africans were 3-0 aggregate winners. Earlier in 1981 Uganda withdrew from the event paving way for the Egyptians to advance.
On both occasions the Egyptians went on to win the competitions and qualify for the world cup.
Africa Championships
Egypt 2 Uganda 0
THE Uganda U-20 national soccer team went down 2-0 to Egypt crying foul as their consolation goal in Cairo was disallowed over the weekend.
The Uganda Hippos see their first leg loss as a pointer towards their early elimination from the Africa Youth Championships.
But team officials have remained optimistic that the team will overturn the away defeat and edge passed Egypt in the return leg at Nakivubo in two weeks.
Coach Frank Anyau blamed the loss on poor officiating by the referees, whom he accused for disallowing Dan Sserunkuuma’s 83rd minute effort as well as denying them a penalty.
Sserunkuuma, who substituted team captain Mike Mutyaba, had looped Egyptian goalkeeper Ahamed El Shinawy and defender Omar Gaber but his effort was disallowed. The centre referee chose to award a free-kick for a foul on the striker.
“We had a superior game but the referees let us down. We promise the return leg will be ours,†Anyau vowed.
The team returns on Wednesday to resume training for the return leg.
The Hippos conceded the first goal in the 29th minute after Mohamed Salah took goalkeeper Godwin Bbuule by surprise with a hard shot. Patrick Edema would have levelled four minutes later but failed with only the keeper.
Not even Anyau’s change of formation from 4-5-1 to his traditional 4-4-2 introducing a second striker could deter the hosts, who effectively killed off the game with a second goal in the 34th minute.
The winner over two legs will meet either Morocco or Ivory Coast in the second round as teams fight for slots in the finals of the U-20 Africa championships due in Libya next year.
The loss is not a surprise as Uganda always struggles against Egypt in under age competitions.
Uganda met Egypt in the U-20 event at the same stage in 2003 and the North Africans were 3-0 aggregate winners. Earlier in 1981 Uganda withdrew from the event paving way for the Egyptians to advance.
On both occasions the Egyptians went on to win the competitions and qualify for the world cup.